A holistic approach to vaso-occlusive pain crisis in children with sickle cell disease

Abstract

A significant number of children with sickle cell disease suffer from episodes of acute recurrent vaso-occlusive pain crisis. Unfortunately, very limited published information is available about specific pain management practices used for these patients. There is even less information available on the use of an interdisciplinary approach for management of sickle cell crisis pain. The purpose of this article is to review the genetic cellular pathophysiology, the sickling process, vaso-occlusive crisis, and management of pain associated with sickle cell disease in children. The article further examines an interdisciplinary approach for the management of vaso-occlusive pain crisis.